Fast initial link setup (FILS) frame content for a wireless network
A wireless network access point generates a fast initial link setup (FILS) discovery frame for broadcast to one or more wireless stations. The wireless network access point supports many operating channels including a primary channel. The FILS discovery frame includes a data field populated with an identification of a channel number for that primary channel of the wireless network access point. The FILS discovery frame includes another data field populated with a primary channel operating class identification. The broadcast FILS discovery frame further includes data indicating whether indicating whether multiple BSSIDs are supported. An FD capability field of the FILS discovery frame includes sub-fields indicating one or more of operation channel width, PHY type of the wireless access point, number of spatial streams supported by the wireless access point and multiple BSSIDs support provided by the wireless access point.
1. A method, comprising:
using a wireless network access point supporting a plurality of channels including a primary channel to transmit duplicate fast initial link setup (FILS) discovery frames for a first transmission duration on at least one of a primary channel and a non-primary channel, wherein each FILS discovery frame includes a data field populated with an identification of a channel number for said primary channel of the wireless network access point;
receiving one of the FILS discovery frames at a wireless station receiving on an operating channel, identifying whether the operating channel is the non-primary channel, and if the operating channel is the non-primary channel switching the operating channel to the primary channel such that the wireless station is receiving on the primary channel;
wherein the primary channel comprises a channel different from the non-primary channel at which the wireless station receives a beacon at a Target Beacon Transmission Time (TBTT), the beacon being different from the FILS discovery frame and having a second transmission duration greater than the first transmission duration.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each FILS discovery frame further includes another data field populated with an operating class identification for said primary channel.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each FILS discovery frame further includes a data bit indicating whether the FILS discovery frame provides primary channel number information.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said access point supports multiple basic service set identifications (BSSIDs), each FILS discovery frame further including a data bit indicating that multiple BSSIDs are supported by the wireless network access point that generated said FILS discovery frame.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein each FILS discovery frame includes an FD capability field, and wherein said data bit indicating multiple BSSIDs support is a data bit within the FD capability field.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein each FILS discovery frame includes an FD capability field, and wherein said FD capability field includes a sub-field populated with data indicating an operation channel width of the channels supported by the wireless access point.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein each FILS discovery frame includes an FD capability field, and wherein said FD capability field includes a sub-field populated with data indicating a PHY type of the wireless access point.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein each FILS discovery frame includes an FD capability field, and wherein said FD capability field includes a sub-field populated with data indicating a number of spatial streams supported by the wireless access point.
9. A method, comprising:
using a wireless station operating on an operating channel to receive one of a plurality of duplicate fast initial link setup (FILS) discovery frames broadcast for a first transmission duration by a wireless network access point on at least one of a primary channel and a non-primary channel, wherein each FILS discovery frame includes a data field populated with an identification of a channel number for said primary channel of the broadcasting wireless network access point;
identifying whether the operating channel is the non-primary channel, and if the operating channel is the non-primary channel, switching the wireless station to the primary channel to receive a beacon at a Target Beacon Transmission Time (TBTT), the beacon being different from the FILS discovery frame and having a second transmission duration greater than the first transmission duration.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein each FILS discovery frame further includes another data field populated with an operating class identification for said primary channel.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein each FILS discovery frame further includes a data bit indicating whether the FILS discovery frame provides primary channel number information.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein said access point supports multiple basic service set identifications (BSSIDs), each FILS discovery frame further including a data bit indicating that multiple BSSIDs are supported by the wireless network access point that generated said FILS discovery frame.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein each FILS discovery frame includes an FD capability field, and wherein said data bit indicating multiple BSSIDs support is a data bit within the FD capability field.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein each FILS discovery frame includes an FD capability field, and wherein said FD capability field includes a sub-field populated with data indicating an operation channel width of the channels supported by the wireless access point.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein each FILS discovery frame includes an FD capability field, and wherein said FD capability field includes a sub-field populated with data indicating a PHY type of the wireless access point.
16. The method of claim 9 , wherein each FILS discovery frame includes an FD capability field, and wherein said FD capability field includes a sub-field populated with data indicating a number of spatial streams supported by the wireless access point.